According to a pokerupdate.com report, player traffic to cash game tables all over the world increased by one percent, although player traffic had been falling for the past two weeks.
The top ten online poker rooms in the industry continue to retain their rankings. The iPoker Network continues to hold onto its second rank as it got 100 more players than the previous week to its cash game tables, which strengthened its lead position over the holder of the third rank, 888 Poker.
Player traffic to the iPoker Network is expected to increase during the following weeks as Ladbrokes Poker has announced that it will be migrating to the iPoker Network from the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) before Christmas. Ladbrokes Poker has decided to make this move to increase its online poker revenue, which had been declining recently.
MPN, which currently holds the tenth rank, is in danger of losing its position in the top ten not just because Ladbrokes has left it for iPoker Network, but also because Unibet Poker has announced its plans to migrate to a proprietary software platform early in 2014. Unibet Poker has partnered with Relax Gaming to develop a new software program that would give greater importance to recreational poker players.
According to PokerScout.com, the International Poker Network (IPN) will be pulling down its shutters soon. This network, which once held the sixth rank at the international level, has gotten into trouble. As a result, IPN’s player traffic has fallen by 90 percent after reaching a peak in 2010.
Traffic to PokerStars cash game tables fell by one percent last week, perhaps because of promotions such as the Golden Sit ‘N’ Go, which lasted one week, and the $27 Million December Festival. The online poker room has now launched a new promotion called Mission Week, which challenges players to earn more VPPs. Cash game traffic is expected to rise as the new promotion will last from Dec 9 to Dec 15.
Meanwhile, the newly regulated US online poker market continues to flourish. Vernon Kirk, director of the Delaware State Lottery, said that new players are registering at the state’s online gambling sites regularly. Although Delaware cannot expect to beat New Jersey or Nevada, online poker is very popular in the state.
Overall, the player traffic is 15 percent less than what it was at this time the previous year. If more states legalize online poker, player traffic might increase in 2014.
